Billy never knew
he never existed
Outside of a creation
of my imagination
a childhood story told nightly
a night light
In which childhood fears hid
in its shadows
he was perfect
while I was flawed
he was brave
while I was always afraid
surrounded by friends
while I was always alone
he was an orphan
taken in by others
while my parents
were always gone
so striking every where he went
People looked to see him.

Billy died some time later
as exaggeration and pain set in
Tho he still sometimes comes around
to see how we're doin
we have no words
left to say
as childhood has slipped away. . .